Please Happy

Visiting the place in Adirondacks where the magic of the wilderness first came alive for me. The lake and cabin and woods of my childhood and my mom’s childhood and my grandfather’s childhood.

In town for a few hours to do work before heading back to the blues and greens.

From the plane.

Not actually sure what the metaphor is, but seemed poetic. Somehow.

Here’s one of ours.

Then, last night, we went to see The Spinto Band play in L.A. (They’re here on tour from our homeland in the mid-Atlantic.)

And, they opened for a band called Miniature Tigers.

I guess they thought Kittens didn’t sound poetic enough.

Went to a “salon” downtown at FarmLab today. Six people presented six minute slideshows on ideas ranging from macro/micro perspectives on art to the changing food culture (urban farming, neighboring countries’ and corporate influence) in Mongolia. We ate homemade lunch and sat family style, on couches and chairs watching the presenters.

Then, I found this in the space behind the space.

A friend wrote yesterday to ask about blogging. Should she do it? Who would read it? Why blog…?

My abridged response to her:

Blogging is so awesome. It’s way more time-consuming than I originally thought it would be. I think if you decide to start a blog, you have to realize that it’s going to be a daily commitment, like getting a dog. You have to feed it, take it on walks, cuddle it, think about what food to buy, where to find the most environmentally-sound toys, etc. It’s another full time job.

So go for it!

But, think about your audience. Who are you writing/shooting for and what is the point?

At first, I thought I was writing for potential employers. They’ll see my witty posts and captivating pics, and they’ll want to hire me (still waiting on that one). At times, I was writing to impress the man in my life (if I write a great post, he’ll love me more). Then, I thought I was writing for teachers (you guys did such a good job that I’m now A Blogger!). Now, I try to write for my family, my fiancé, my faraway friends, my future kids and myself. As my mentor Judy Muller said, it’s about noticing things. Then, noticing that you’re noticing.

When I forget that it’s about noticing, not not only do I get depressed that I’m not wildly famous, but my stuff gets self-conscious and boring.

I had to take a break when I got to grad school because I started trying to write about the “future of journalism.” I wanted to be Jay Rosen or Henry Jenkins. But, then I remembered that the stuff I love to write about is the stuff I notice. Like, the reindeer and snowflake ornaments hanging from the banister at my new favorite coffee shop or the light in my cats’ eyes or the little shoots of green growing out of a Los Angeles sidewalk. Beauty in the chaos.

And it became fun again.

My new favorite study spot. Bricks & Scones in Larchmont. There’s a plant-sheltered patio, a large social room, an upstairs area for meetings and an upstairs study for silence. Thank you, Hilary for the tip.

Also, I’m pretty sure I should start advertising myself as an iPhone photographer. I love my little magic device.